Gas cylinder blast
Explosion in G-7/2 damages nearby houses; 11 injured as rescue operation completed, officials say
ISLAMABAD
At least eight people, including a newly married couple, were killed on Sunday when a gas cylinder exploded at a house in Islamabad’s G-7/2 sector where a wedding ceremony was under way, officials said.
The blast occurred while guests were present at the house, according to Additional Deputy Commissioner General Sahibzada Yousaf. He said the explosion caused extensive damage to four neighbouring houses and that all people trapped under the rubble had been recovered.
Rescue teams pulled 19 people from the debris. Of them, eight have died, while 11 others were injured and shifted to hospital.
Officials confirmed that the deceased include the bride and groom, their mother, uncle, aunt, and cousin, as well as two neighbours, Waseem and Naeem.
The injured were taken to the Capital Hospital and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where an emergency was imposed to ensure immediate medical treatment.
An emergency has been imposed at PIMS Hospital on the instructions of the Executive Director PIMS, according to hospital spokesperson Dr Aneesa Jalil.
A total of 11 injured people, including two children, were also shifted to the hospital, Dr Jalil confirmed and most of the injured sustained severe injuries due to the collapse of the roof following the explosion.
Treatment of the injured is ongoing in the orthopaedic, burn centre and neurology departments.
Deputy Commissioner Yousaf said the rescue operation had been completed and no one remained trapped under the rubble. He added that sniffer dogs and modern equipment were used during the search operation to ensure all victims were recovered.
Islamabad Police said Deputy Inspector General Muhammad Jawad Tariq reached the site and personally supervised the ongoing rescue operation. Senior police officers were also present at the scene alongside rescue teams.
In a statement, the police said the area had been completely cordoned off, the injured were being provided medical assistance and further investigation into the incident was under way. The DIG urged citizens to cooperate with rescue teams during emergency operations.
Authorities launched an inquiry to determine the exact cause of the explosion, while the Islamabad deputy commissioner directed senior officials to oversee rescue and relief efforts at the site are nearly complete after six hours.
The Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa confirmed that the incident occurred due to a gas leak. “Eight casualties have been reported so far, but none of the injured are in critical condition,” he added.
The explosion, Randhawa noted, is a type of incident that sometimes occurs in winter, and he urged citizens not to use gas at night. “One injured person has been shifted to the burn centre, and the CDA is supporting affected families,” he said.
He praised the prompt start of the rescue operation and said authorities would prevent residents from staying in homes with structural cracks.
Responding to questions about illegal constructions, he said it was not the time to assign blame, but added that unauthorised buildings would be reviewed as part of the investigation.
The Chairman confirmed that the Prime Minister and Interior Minister have been briefed and that an official inquiry has begun. “Our current focus is entirely on rescue and relief efforts,” he said.
